Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero once again called for a comprehensive financial and social audit of internet gambling platforms, lamenting the rapid rise of online gaming, where bets can be placed via mobile apps. He stated, “There is now a casino in every Filipino’s pocket.”

Escudero emphasized that the easy accessibility of online gaming should prompt government regulators to perform a “social cost-state benefit” analysis of the activities of Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs), warning, “Online gaming can now take money from every Filipino.”

He suggested that the same accounting methods the government used to assess and ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) should be applied to PIGOs as well.

“What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. An anomaly does not cease to be one just because Filipinos are doing it,” he said.

“I would like to see the government apply the same level of attention to detail in assessing PIGOs as it did with POGOs. Didn’t all government agencies take a granular approach in studying the impact of POGOs on our society?” he added.

Once the inquiry into PIGOs begins, Escudero expects to see data on “tax payments from PIGOs, their ownership structure, the government’s share, and police reports on crimes committed by addicted gamblers.”

He also emphasized that a new assessment of the entire gaming industry is necessary to get an accurate picture of how much Filipinos are betting each year.

“What we only see are the gross revenues and net income of gaming and gambling firms. But the total amount wagered by Filipinos across all platforms should also be revealed,” he said.